The upcoming President Donald Trump will not be required to pass under a commemorative plaque dedicated to the heroes of January 6 when he swears in on the Capitol’s west front this Monday. The reason being, a disagreement has arisen over four years after the Capitol upheaval regarding a plaque meant to honor the brave individuals and victims of the attack.
A 2022 legislation, approved by Congress and endorsed by President Biden, called for a plaque to be installed on the west front of the Capitol complex by March 2023. However, Republican House leaders, who are closely affiliated with Trump, have made no moves to put up the plaque and have not provided a schedule for its installment.
Here is an image of the completed plaque, according to three Democratic U.S. House sources. The plaque pays tribute to the police and law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the riot on January 6, 2021.
Nearly 60 House Democrats sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday, expressing their gratitude to the courageous officers who protected the Capitol and ensured their safety. They requested an update regarding the timeline for following the law and installing the plaque.
Among those advocating for the plaque is Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, who was trapped in the upper level of the House Chamber during the Capitol attack. Crow and colleagues wrote to Johnson, stating that each day Congress fails to fulfill its promises, it disrespects the service men and women who protect Congress members, staff, constituents, and the American public.
Other Democrats who signed the letter include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, some members of the House Jan. 6 select committee, and others who were in close proximity to the violent mob during the riot.
When asked by CBS News on Thursday whether the plaque would be installed, Johnson said he hadn’t looked into it yet and would need to check.
The letter from House Democrats mentioned that a House administrator had testified that the plaque was ready, but its installation still awaited action from Speaker Johnson.
Over 140 police officers were injured during the Capitol attack, and several others died by suicide in the days following the riot.
Numerous Democrats and staffers present at the Capitol on Jan. 6 have accused Republicans of pandering to Trump by minimizing or disregarding the violence of the attack. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who ran unsuccessfully for a U.S. House seat in Maryland as a Democrat last year, stated that Speaker Johnson had provided no reason for the delay in installing the plaque, accusing him of obstruction.
For months, Democrats have been urging House leaders to address the delay in installing the plaque, with little success. In May, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who was part of the House Jan. 6 select committee investigating the attack, questioned Johnson about the failure to install the plaque.
Lofgren shared with CBS News that she had sent a polite inquiry about the delay to Speaker Johnson in May but received no response. Her office followed up, only to be referred to an unclear press answer, followed by silence.
Rep. Joe Morelle, a New York Democrat who is the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, stated that the plaque should be installed as required by law. He believes that refusing to display the Jan. 6 plaque is part of the denialism that Republicans have made central to their identity, denying the occurrence of Jan. 6 and the damage it inflicted on the U.S. Capitol Police force and American democracy.
Ellis Kim contributed to this report.
